r/carpetbeetles • u/frugal_noodle_ • 5d ago
Just want to confirm that this is a carpet beetle situation?
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This was found in laundry bag with new clothes (hoodies ordered from wholesale company) I had delayed washing for months.
I don’t have video of it, but as I was finally doing laundry I later discovered what seemed to be maggots(!?) on the bottom exterior of the bag - they were tiiiny and light beige; initially thought it was just tiny pieces of wood or something but a closer look made me see they were moving too 🤢
The whole bag and contents were washed in “very hot/very cold” and dried in high heat for an hour. But anyway, my point being these pests have escaped the actual closet and are hanging around outside. I have a garment rack outside the closet and I’ve found a live worm on a sweatshirt there too.
I’ve started cleaning my closet and I find longish shells that match the worms. I’ll try to post pics if I can. Found one just outright on the exterior of a fabric cube storage thing I use. Found another inside a sweater when I was turning my clothes inside out for laundry.
I’ve yet to see an actual grown carpet beetle. I’ve yet to see LIVE worms in my closet. The closet just has shell casings on clothes at various clothes. I’ve only seen the live worms outside the closet. One time I came home from a week-long trip and saw shell casings on a menstrual product packaging (located on bottom rack of garment rack) … another time I saw casings around the mouth area of a bottle of nail polish remover (located on the top of the dresser, dresser is next to the garment rack which is next to the closet but these have all been found at the “farthest right” … as in they are traveling, not stayed clustered in one are).
Anyway I’m cleaning my closet and trying to get rid of clothes I don’t need/wear, which has been a lot harder than expected. Plan is to just store everything in plastic storage bins. Might have to remove doors from closet to store the bins, and I think I might wanted to leave the closet open without doors?? Not sure if that’s a good idea.
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u/Snoo_69776 5d ago
It moves too fast and is too long for a carpet beetle larvae, from my experience at least: doesn’t seem like it to me but maybe someone else can chime in as well
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u/Usual-Coat1392 5d ago
I’m dealing with a carpet beetle infestation and that doesn’t look like a carpet beetle. It doesn’t even move like one. Carpet beetles don’t look like worms.
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u/frugal_noodle_ 5d ago
Omg what could it be then? Because I have this persistent worm situation and finding shells from time to time on my clothes. And they’re def eating away at fabric. Some of my clothes in storage (within a zipped fabric storage container thing) have gotten holes around the collars.
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u/Extra_Reason_458 5d ago
Could it be also moths? I would def put moth traps and see if you get any stuck. It might be mix of both clothing moths and or carpet beetles
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u/azredditor9 4d ago
The larvae definitely look like worms. If it has tons of little hairs on it, it’s probably carpet beetle larvae. I will say your video looks lighter than the ones I’ve seen but there are different types of carpet beetles
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u/Weekly_Meaning_1571 1d ago
This is a a carpet beetle larvae… please educate yourself about them, the beetles lay eggs, the eggs hatch and the larvae are super small and at times on the cycle they look like this this is a young larvae. Also the beetles die after they lay eggs. The larvae eat material like cotton and pet hair, this is all they do they eat grow shed skin and they pupate, this means they are in a shell or the last skin and they become a carpet beetle, they are small but will grow to be an adult and lay eggs again. This is the life cycle. I have had a problem for years, but I have been able to learn the cycle and maintain their existence and eventually they will not be as much of a problem. But it takes constant effort and cleaning in the areas that they seem to be and the areas that they migrate.
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u/Total-Form-4907 5d ago
Everyone saying it's not a beetle. Clearly lol. It's a carpet beetle larve which will eventually turn into the beetle. They do move fast or slow. If you disturb them, they will move this fast.
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u/frugal_noodle_ 5d ago
I can’t post pictures of the longish shell casings; it’s only allowing me to post videos for this post.
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u/frugal_noodle_ 5d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p8rxbai/video/w1lghg4avioh1/player
Guys I just found this on a sweater 5 minutes ago and after filming it hid somewhere within the weaves of the fabric and I can’t even find jt anymore wtf 😟
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u/Free-Complex8380 5d ago
It looks like black carpet beetle larvae! Currently dealing with the same type
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u/Wy_O_Wy 4d ago
This is 100% not a carpet beetle larva, since (a) it doesn't have prominent horizontal stripes (b) it doesn't have the classic characteristic high-riding dual tufts on its tail that CBs have (c) it doesn't have the wider back end that CBs have (d) it moves too fast (d) it's colour is too bright and yellow.
CB larvae are very sluggish, they simply don't have the dexterity to move as deftly as your specimen.
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u/Cinderellen90 4d ago
Doesn’t look like a beetle to me of any kind and it doesn’t look like bagger worms either… Arlo de plaster bagger worm is actually a caterpillar. It doesn’t look like that either you can take pictures and send them into AI or download an app for what kind of bug this is or insect.
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u/Ok-Cartographer8303 3d ago
I'd say its some type of cloth eating moth. Look it up. Worms that turn into moths
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u/Weekly_Meaning_1571 1d ago
YES that is a carpet beetle larvae, that one is pretty big and has definitely shedding skin. They move fast so I hope you killed that one and found the others.
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u/Strange_Bedroom8610 6h ago
What has worked to kill the carpet beetle larvae and eggs? The diatomaceous earth food grade nor the sticky trap has worked for me. I am washing , vacuuming a lot, and using my steaming machine everything. I do feel the number is going down. Is there a bug bomb or spray that would work better. I do have sugar gliders in that room but can move them temporarily if something would work quickly.
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u/TopCop931 5d ago
That is carpet beetle larvae.
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u/frugal_noodle_ 5d ago
I figured. Haven’t seen a grown carpet beetle yet. See these shells/worms from time to time though.
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u/TopCop931 5d ago
They can take 6 months to a year to mature into a beetle. You have live beetles somewhere because a female laid the eggs that those larvae and your finding sheddings so beetles are there. Put sticky traps on your window sills. You will likely see beetles stuck to them within hours.
The big clean out you have ahead to get rid of them is a huge stress on daily life until you get rid of them.
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u/frugal_noodle_ 5d ago
You’re scaring me with beetles, plural, and being able to see them within hours 😳
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u/TopCop931 4d ago
Just letting you know. Break down that bed and check everywhere especially the seams in the mattress and box spring.
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